Classic Literature Considered
Collins, The Moonstone 197-246
1. She is blissfully unaware of how hypocritical, sanctimonious, and supercilious she comes across when explaining how things are in society and in this particular situation. I think Collins is trying to show the arrogance and ignorance of the “haves” in English society, and trying to show how absurd they come across. Of course, I doubt any readers with the same attitude as Clack would even be aware that her behavior and attitude is wrong. Her name is also ironic because it sounds like the clanging cymbal fake-love mentioned in 1 Corinthians in the Bible.
2. Clearly, referring to her town as “Patmos” means she feels herself exiled there, like the Apostle John, because of her piety and good moral living whilst everyone else apparently are “evil Catholics” (thus, “popery”). She appears to look down at the poor masses outside her town in England, many of whom were Catholics and not true believers. She shows her snobbery and perhaps a hint of the economic/social gulf between the classes at that time.
4. Clack’s view offers a significantly different aspect of this story, albeit superficial, of the events that led to the theft of the diamond, and who might be to blame, and to what ends. In the end, however, her testimony comes across preachy, fakey, and slightly delusional when it comes to Godfrey, especially. She sees what she wants to see in him and her surroundings and interpret things in ways that support herself and her culture.
5. Even though I did not completely trust anyone in the beginning of the novel (after all, one always looks for hints as to whom the villain might be), my opinion of Godfrey has become worse and worse as the story as gone along, although I find him more pathetic and manipulative than evil and villainous. His background sounds more insecure than criminal, but I will have to see.
6. My opinion of Rachel has not changed much, but mainly because her voice has not been voiced as loudly as the other characters. She seems to live a careful life and her motivation is therefore fully unknown. She may be protecting herself or others. Plus, she comes across as somewhat superior and elitist.
5. I think the paragraph on page 205 in Chapter One in the Second Period presents the Imperialist’s attitude well. In it, Clack states, “Ordinary people might have hesitated before setting aside their own engagements to suit the convenience of a stranger. The Christian Hero never hesitates where good is to be done.” These two sentences show the superior position and incentives of the Englishman in this woman’s mind. Good, extraordinary Englishmen are there to help others; in fact, their key obligation is to help wherever there is need. The final three sentences tie this in with Imperialism when Clack remarks, “He noticed two unusual things on entering the room. One of them was a faint odour or musk and camphor. The other was an ancient Oriental manuscript, richly illuminated with Indian figures and devices, that lay open to inspection on a table.” Clack presents several ideas in this paragraph—the ethical, the Englishmen, the enigmatic, and the exotic.